Trailer-steering device



0ct.-l 18, 1927.

y J. E. BECKER TRAILER STEERING DEVICE VvE/WUR.

.I ERNEST BECKER.`

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 9, 1926 18 19 Oct 27' J. E: BECKER TRAILER STEERING DEVICE 3v sheets-sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9. 1926 R. En W Jr `151m EST ecKER, E/

Oct. 18, 1927.

J. E. BECKER TRAILER STEERING DEVICE Filed Aug. 9, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 wf/vra?? IERNEST EECKER Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH ERNEST BECKER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

TRAILER-STEERING DEVICE.

Application led August 9, 1926.

My invention relates to improvements in steering` devices for vehicle trailers whereby the steering' wheels of a trailer are automatically actuated by the relative pivotal body movement of the vehicle when driven along a curvilinear course to cause the trailer to track with the vehicle.

The primary object of my invention to provide a new and inniiroved steering` mechanism for vehicle trailers. p

Another object is to provide a new and improved device ofthe character described whereby the steering wheels of a trailer are caused to automatically track with the wheels of a vehicle when driven either forwardly or rearwardly.

A further object to provide an improved mechanism' which will facilitate the backing up and turning` of a vehicle and trailer.

Another object is to provide an improved device whereby the steering` wheels may be moved to varying degrees to vary the turn ing' radius of the trailer and vehicle.

A further object is to provide improved steering1 mechanism for steering' a trailer the same or in opposite direction relative to the turningwp,` movement of the vehicle whereby the `vehicle and trailer ray he "'l backed along)T awcompeund. curve and to facilitate the manipulation of the vehicle and. trailer in restricted areas.

Another object is to provide animpreved steering mechanism which will. normally hold the trailer and vehicle in trailing' relation and which will prevent side sway of the trailer relative to the vehicle when in motion.

Another object is to provide improved means for selectively adjusting' the mechanism to steer the trailer in a desired direction and at a desired rate.

A further object is to provide an improved steering mechanism wherein a plurality ef actnatin gears are arranged to be selectively engaged :for (,)perating' the steerinpj mechanism in a desired manner.

.ik further object is to provide improved means for shifting the steeringf mechanism and arranged to operate in a manner adapted to prevent the relative movement of the vehicle and trailer from affecting the shiftinn' mea-ns and arranged to operate etliciently independently of the angle between the vehicle and trailer.

A still furtlier object et the invention is serial No. 128,131.

to provide improved mechanism of the character described which may be detachably connected in a simple and eliicient man? ner so as to facilitate the coupling and un,- coupling of the trailer from the vehicle, and in which the shifting levers may be permanently carried upon the vehicle and easily and eliicicntly connected with the steering mechanism when the trailer is coupled to the vehicle.

I accomplish these and other objects by means of the improved device disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present application wherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar parts throughout the specilication and drawings. and in which,

Fig. l is a. broken plan view of the rear portieri of a motor vehicle and a trailer disclosingl a portion of my improved steering` device and the manner in which it is applied.

Fig. 2 is a broken side elevation of the device as shown in Fig. l, with the near wheels of the trailer and vehicle removed.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken side elevation, partly in section, of the steering` connections.

Fig. 4; is an enlarged broken plan view, partly in section, of said connections.

Fig'. 5 is a still farther enlarged broken detail of a portion of the gear shifting mechanism.

G is an enlarged detail view of the means for detachably locking the draw bar of the trailer in pivotal connect-ion with the vehicle.

Figs. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views showing the manner in which the trailer is steered to track with the vehicle.

Referring; to the drawings, the numeral l is used to designate in general the body of a vehicle such as a motor truck or the like, said body extending rearwardly in overhanging relation to a rear axle 2 carryingT the rear wheels 3 of the vehicle. Front wheels 4 are mounted upon the forward end of the body and arranged to be moved piv otallv in the well known manner for steering the vehicle. The rearwardly extendingportion of the body overhanging the rear aXl Z hereinafter referred to as the overhang, is arranged to be connected to a draw bar 6 connected to the axle 7 of a suitable trailer to be drawn by the vehicle., said trailer being provided with wheels 8 mounted for pivotal movement for steeril'uil the trailer in a manner analogous to the mounting the of the front wheels l ot the vehicle. The trailerI may be either two-wheeled or four-wheeled7 but as the front `or steering wheels of a four-wheeled trailer only are acted upon directly by my steering device, have illustrated only a single axle and pair of wheels which may be regarded either as` a two-wheeled trailer or as the front wheels and axle of a four-wheehal trailer.

rllhe draw bar G is dlitachably connected to the overhang ot the body 1 of the vehicle by means of a. transverse bar E) provided with trunnions 11 engagingbearing recesses l2 formed in opposite sides of a yoke 13 extending across the rearward end of the body 1 and secured to said body in any suitable'manner. rlhe trunnions 11 are held in engagement withthe bearing recesses 112 by means of latch member 111 pivotaily secured upon the side members ofthe yoke and arranged to swing into parallel relation with said sides to close the open upper ends of the recesses 18, as shown in `Fig. (i of the drawings. The draw bar (5 is pivotally engaged by a king pin 1G carried by the bar t). rlhe king pin 1G permits a transverse pivotal movement of the draw bar relative to the body 1 of the vehicle and the trunnions 11 permit a vertical pivotal movement of said draw bar relative to said body, whereby said draw bar may swing horizontally and vertically te accommodate the necessary movement of the drz w bar when the trailer is connected to the'vehiele.

The trailer steering mechanism consists of a shaft 17 mounted upon the draw bar (S by means of suitable bearings 1S, the rearward end of said bar being provided with an arm 19 engaging the steering reach rod 21 connecting the wheels S of the trailer whereby the swinging movement imparted to said arm will operate to turn the wheels S upon their mounting spindles when the shaft 17 is partially rotated as hereinafter more fully described.

The forward end of the shaft 17 is provided with a plurality of gears 22, 523, 2l and 25A, rotatable upon the shaft 17 and normally meshing with ring gear segments 26, .17, 28 and 29 mounted upon a plate 3l secured npontlie transverse bar 9. 'lhe ring gear segments are arranged eoncentrieally with the, king pin` 16 upon the forward and rearward sides thereof, said segments being of sut fieient length to maintain meshing relation with the gears when the draw bar is swung to either extreme of pivotal movement upon the' king pin 16.

Clutch members 32' and are feathered upon thefshaft 17 between the gears 22 and 241, and the gears 28 andQ respectively, said eluteh members being independently movreaaeaa able to engage either adjacent gear whereby said gear may be locked to the shaft lor rotating the same. The clutch members d2 and 33 may be actuated in any suitable manner? preferably by means. of bell cranks ill and pivotally .mounted as at 3T upon brackets 38 and 35) secured upon the draw bar G.

The bell crank 3ft is pivolally and connected at one end to the clutch member 32 and at the other end upon an arin Vll extending downwardly from a sleeve l2 slidably mounted upon a vertically disposed shaft -l-B extemling upwardly co-axially with the ring gear segments. The lower end ol' the shaft Ll?) is secured upon a bearing block 18 and the upper end secured upon a yoke 14rextending upwardly above the bar Sl, said shaft f1.8 being arranged to be nlovcd with the bar 9 and ring gear segments secured thereto. The sleeve L12 is actuated by means of ay bell` cran; 416 pivotally mountiwl upon the vehicle body 1 as at LLl-"r' and arrangcffl to be actuated by a shifting rod alti. The bell crank 416 connected to the sleeve l2 bv means of aicollar L-l) rotatable upon the sleeve 1i-2 and provided with al laterally extclulinnl pin 51 arranged to be engagml within a :slot 52 formed in the crank elfo, the collar 15) being held against rotation by means ol said slidalily crank #1G and pin 51 while the sleeve -efl is rotated therein with the shaft 45%. 'lbe slotted arm of the crank 416 is made arcuate to accommodate the pivotal movement ol the shaft L1?) and the draw bar tl upon the trunnions 11, and thi arm of the bell crank llalengaged by the extension ll is curved eoncentrically with the shaft el?) 'whereby cngagement is maintained regarrilless ol' 'the pivotal movement of the draw har relative to the vehicle body.

The bell crank 34') is connected al omI end to the clutch member El?, :1nd at the other end to a collar 53 rotatably mounted upor a sleeve 5ft slidably mounted upon the shaft i13. The sleeve oel: is provided with an upwardly disposed extension Ell arranged opposite the extension 1L said extension no being conncrled to a bell crank SST mounted upon the vehicle body and actuated by a rod 55 in a manner similarto the bell crank 4to, said crank 5T being ii' i\'i(lml with an arcuate slot engaging a, pin 5H carried by the extension 5G and arranged to hold the sleeve olli against rotation with the sha'l't lil. The hell crank 35 curved cinicenlricallv with the shaft ,l'i to maintain engagement with a pin 59 carried by the collar regardv less olf the pivotal movement of the crank arm with the trailer draw bar.

The bell cranks etti and 57 are selectively operated to shift the clutch mechanism associated therewith in either direction bv means of a selective lever, not showm mounted adjacent the drivers seat and operloo lll)

ating the rods 48 and 55 in a inaiineifiilly analogousto the ordinary shifting mechanism provided for shifting gears of motor vehicle transmissions, and a detailed disclosure of such well known mechanism is herein unnecessary.

The draw bar G is pivotally connected to the transverse bar 9 and the plate 31 together with the ring gear segments carried thereby and the clutch operating bell cranks 34 and 35 together with theirl actuating connections carried by the shaft all are all carried by and as a part of the draw bar. The shifting bell cranks 16 and 57 and their actuating connections are permanently mounted 'upon the vehicle body.` In coupling the t `ailer to the vehicle, the latch members le are swung to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The transverse bar 9 is then placed with the trunnions 11 in engagement with the bearing recesses l2 and the latches returned to locking position. llhen moving the bar 9 into coupling position, the pins 51 andS are moved into the open ends of the slots` formed in the bell cranks t6 and 57, thereby obtaining an operative connection between thel shifting mechanism and the steering mechanism. g

In operation my improved trailer steering device is as follows Assuming the trailer coupled to a motor vehicle as above described and the vehicle and trailer to be alined along a straight course, the steering gear mechanism is shifted to cause the gear' 22 to be locked to the shaft 17 and the ring gear segment 2G rendered operative for steering the trailer. This position, hereinafter referred to as the normal forward driving position, results in the following Voperations `thereby holding the arm 19 rigidly in a po-4 sition such that the steering wheelsof the trailer are held in alinement with the wheels of the vehicle and the trailer will be caused to track accurately with the vehicle so long as the vehiile is dri -en along a rectilinear course, thus preventing the dangerous swaying 'frequently occurring when a trailer is pulled along a rough oruneven road.

1When the vehicle is driven along a curvilinear course,` as around curves occurring in a highway, the turn-ing of the vehicle upon the curve causes the overhang of the body 1 to turn pivotally with respect to the axis of the hing pin 16 through which the trailer is being pulled along. This relative pivotal movement is imparted to thering gear segments which are thus removed relatively to the gears and caused to partially rotate the same. The gea-r 22, when it is engaged by its clutch member 32, causes a cor esponding partial rotation of the shaft 17, which in turn moves the lever arm 19 and causes the steering wheels of the trailer to be pivotally turned to track with the vehicle as it is driven along the curvilinear course. rlhe relative movement and the manner in which the trailer is steered for normal forward driving is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 7 of the drawings. Vlien driven along a straight course, the center line of the vel hicle and the center line of the trailer will coincide. "When moving forwardly around a curve `to the left, as indicated by the arrow A, the center line of the vehicle is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow B, the angular displacement causing a par Vial rotation of the gear 22 and shaftl wherebv the trailer wheels are t-urned to the right "with respect to the axle of the trailer and said wheels are caused to accurately track with the wheels of the vehicle along the course indicated in broken lines. After completing' the curve, the body will swing bach into alinement,` thereby causing the 22 to be rotated in the reverse direction and the wheels of the trailer returned to alinement with the wheels of the vehicle. Villien the curve is toward the right, the movement inthe direction opposite to that indicated in Fig. 7 and the trailer will be steered in a corresponding direction. The ratio between the gear 22 and the ringl segment 2G is designed with respect to the length of body, overhang, spindle leverage, and other fa'- tors determinable for any particular' size and type of vehicle to obtain an accurate tracking of the trailer during normal forward driving.

lfVhen it is desired to have the vehicle and trailer travel rearwardly along a course, the gear shifting mechanism is operated to lock gear 23 to the shaft 17 and thereby render ,the segment 27 operative for actuating the steering mechanism for normal rearward motion.. lVhen the movement is alone1 a rectilinear course the segment and geardopcrate to hold the trailer. wheels in alinement with the vehicle wheels and the trailer and truclr may be readily backed up. l/Vhen moving rearwardly upon a turn, theswinging of the body causes the segment 27 to partially rotate the gear 23 andishaft 17 and thereby operate to turn the steering wheels of the trailer.

lt. will be not-ed that the normal forward driving segment 26 and the normal rearward driving segment 27 are upon longitudinally opposite sides of the king pin 1G aboutwhich the draw bar swings, thereby causing a corresponding movement of the body 1 relative to the draw bar 6 to cause the steering wheels of the trailer to be turned in opposite directions. Thus when driving forwardly, with trie gear E22 in operative relation, the movement of the body toward the right causes the gear 22 and shalt 17 to be rotated toward the lett whereby the arm 19 is swung toward the lett and the steering wheels caused to be inclined toward the right as shown in Fig. 7. hen backing along the same curve as shown in Fig.

' Fig. 8 ot' the drawings.

Should the course be around a compound curve as indicatedV in Fig. 8, the trailer is steered during forward movement by mere ly leaving the normal -forward driving gear 22 in operative relation, said gear being oscillated-back and forth in proportion to the body movement oi the vehicle and the trailer is automatically steered to track with the vehicle. 1When backing, however, the gears must be shifted to reverse the inclination of the trailer wheels while traversing th-e curve. rllo accomplish this the normal backing gear 23 vis disengaged and a` forward driving gear is engaged to rotate the shaft 17 andturn the wheels in an opposite direction to the normal rearward action.

The normal.` straightening oit the vehicle and` trailer into alinement while moving rearwardly along the compound curve indicated in Fig. 8 would normally only cause the wheels of the trailer to be returned to alining relation to the vehicle wheels.` To direct the movement around the compound curve it is therefore necessary that the steering wheels oilr the trailer be moved through a wider: angle than,v would result from the operation oty the gear'22 and segment 26. To accomplish this the gear 2d is rendered operative. The outer segment 28 is. thenl operative to rotate'the` shaft 17, and as the segment 28. is oit greater radius than the segment 9.6, the gear 24e andy shalt 17 will berotated tl'irough a correspondingly ater degree whereby the steering wheels ot the trailer are shifted to the degree neces-` sary to negotiate the turn as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 8.

From the above explanation it` will be seen that for normal forward or rearward driving thegears 22 and 23 are engaged respectively, and by the use of; said gears the trailer` is automatically steeredto track with the vehicle. lllhen any increased degree or movement is necessary, as when making a compound turn rearwardly as` above described, and when manipulating the vehicle Leashes and trailer within a. restricted arca :is in turning around or in drawing or bar-hing the vehicle and trailer against a curb or loading platform, the gear 24- or 25 may be engaged to obtain an increased degree u'l movement in a desired iflircction whereby the trailer may be readily caused to more along a desired course or to a desired position.

lliy iniurovcd steering mechanism. by causing the trailer' to aiitoniaticully l'izirl with the vehicle reduces the radius` upon which the vehicle and trailer may bc turned and thereby avoids congcsling lraliir' und insures againr-;t damage due lo thc culling ,in o i the 'trailer while rouniflingi a lui-n. lt also eliminates all side aways ol` lhc trailer and thereby removes a dangcrmis hazard to trafiic. ln addition lo this my device is ot particular value in the logiggingr industry, because of the saving clim-lcd in road construction. Logging roads hereto-- tore have commonly rem'lircd a wide clear-- ance upon turns in order lo taire care of lbc cutting in ot the trailers. its the roads :inI commonly cut in inoni'itainous country and are of only a. temporary nature. this involves a heavy entra expense whi. h is culirelv avoided by causing the trailer to accurately traelr with the vehicle, as shown dcrcribcil.

lllhile l have illustrated and described what l now regard as the ilnelcrrcd loi-m and construction oi' my invcntiml.` the device is, ol course, subject to modiliiation in numerous ways without departing from :be spirit oit my invention. l, therefore, do noiV wish to restrict myself to the spccilic cou-- struction illustrated and desrrilgicd. bul dcsire to avail myself ot all modilicalions which may tall within the scope ol` the appended claims.

- Having thus described my invention what l claim as new and desire to beure by lari ters Patent is: l

l. fr trailer steering niechaniran arranged to be connected between a vehicle and trailer, each having pivotally movable steering wheels, said mechanism connnising menus connected between the vehicle and trailer for pivotally` moving the steering wheels of the trailer to travi; with thc steering wheels ot the vehicle when said vehicle is driven either i'omvardly or rearwardly alena.; a curviline; course; and means tor incrcaa ing the normal degree oi turning ol' (hc trai l er wheels relative to the turning ol the vehicle to vary the course ot said railcr.

fr trailer steering mechanism arranged to be connected between a vehicle` and trailer. each having pivotally movable 4steering wheels, said mechanism cianprising` runnin; connected between the vehicle and trailer 'for pivotally turning the steering wheels ot the trailer inthe same manner or` in opposite direction relative to the turning et the steer lli:

llfi

ing wheels ot' the vehicle when said vehicle is the movement of the trailer wheels relative to the turning` oli the wheels and body oli' the vehicle.

3. A trailer steering; mechanism coinpi'ising a draw arranged to be connected between a vehicle and trailer each having,` pivotally 'moving steering wheels; a shaft mounted in connection with the draw bar and connected to the steering wheels ot the trailer for pivotally turning said wheels; and gear means connected between the body of the vehicle and the shaft and arranged to be actuated by the body movement oi the vehicll, when steered alongl a curvilii'iear course to rotate the shalt whereby the trailer may be automatically caused to t-raclc with the vehicle; and means iter varyingg the t izgrec ol" rotation of the shalt and tla ing movei'nentv of the 'trailer wheels reif to the turning ot the body and wheels the vehicle.

t. A trailer steering mechanism comprising a draw bar arranged to be connected between a vehicle and trailer each having; pivotally movable steering wheels; a sha't mounted in connection with the draw bar and connected to the steering' `wheels ot the trailer for pivotally turning said wheels' plurality ot' gears mounted upon the sli j and selective means mounted in tonnection with the body olf the vehicle and arranged to actuate the gears, and thereby rotate the Vshatt in a desired direction whereby the trailer is automatically steered to track with the vehicle when said vehicle is driven 'torwardly or rearwardly along` a curvilinear course,

5. A trailer steering mechanism comprising a draw bar arranged to be connected between a vehicle and trailer each hai/infr pivotally movable steering wheels; a shalt mounted in connection with the draw bar and connected to the steering` wheels ot the trailer ttor pivotally turning` said wheehi a plurality of gears mounted upon the shalt; and selective means mounted in cf'innection with the body ot the vehicle and actuated `by the turning movement thereof when the vehicle is steered along` a curvilinear course for actuating a desired gear to rotate the shalt to turn the steering wheels ot the trailer in a desired direction and to a desired degree whereby the trailer is automatically steered to track with the vehicle when driven forwardly or rearwardly.

6. A trailer steering mechanism compris ing` a draw bar arranged to be connected between a vehicle and trailer each having pivotally movable steerini` wheels; a sha'tt mounted in connection with the draw bar and connected to the steering wheels of the trailer tor pivotally turningV said wheels; a

pluralityo'f gea-rs mounted upon. the shaft; a plurality olE ring gear setnnents mounted upon the body ol' the vehicle and arranged to mesh with the gears, said segments beingarranged to move with the body to actuate the gears and shalt when the vehicle is steered along' a curvilinear course; and selective means tor rendering` a desired gear operative l' r rotating the shaft whereby the steering' wheels of the trailer may be moved automatically in a desired. direction and to a desired degree when the vehicle is driven forwardly or rearwardly.

7. il trailer steering mechanism comprising a draw bar arranged to be connected between a vehicle and a trailer each having pivotally movable steering' wheels; a shalt mounted in connect-ion with the draw bar and connected to the steering` wheels ol, 'the `trailer ttor pivotally turning said wheels; a

plurality ot' gears mounted upon the shaft; a like plurality ot ring; gear segments mounted upon `the body of the vehicle and arranged to mesh with the gears, said segr ments being arranged to movewith the body to actuate the ygears and shaft when the vehicle is steered along a curvilinear course; clutches mounted upon the shaft adjacent the gears; and selective means for moving' a desired clutch into engagement with a desired gear ttor rotating` 'the shaft whereby the steering' wheels of the trailer may be moved automatically in a desired direction and to a desired degree when the vehicle is driven forwardly or rearwardly.

8. A trailer steering` mechanism co1nprising a draw bar connected to a trailer and pivctally connected to a hingl pin carried by a vehic`e, said trailer and vehicle each having` pivotally movable steering wheels; a shaft mounted in connection with the draw bar and connected to the steering' wheels of the trailer for pivotally turning` said wheels; a plurality ot gears mounted upon the shaft; a like pluraity for ring gear seojments mounted upon the vehicle concen tric with the lrinc; pin l-and arranged to :mesh with the freu l see'i'nents bein arranged to more with the body relative to the draw bar and shaitt 'to actuate the Lfears and shalt when the vehicle is driven along;l a curvilinear course; (fetches mounted lupon the shalt ad liacent the gears; and selectivemeans 'for actuating a desired clutch to engage a desired gear for rotating; the shalt whereby the steering' wheels oil' the trailer may be moved automatically in a desired direction and to a desired degree when the vehicle is driven forwardly or rear Tardly.

9. A trailer steering mechanism compris ingl a draw bar connected to a trailer and pivotally connected to a king; pin carried by a vehicle, said trailer and vehicle each havingr pivota`ly movable steering' wheels; a shaft mounted in connection with the draw ltltl bar and connected tothe steering wheels of the trailer for pivotally moving' said wheels; a vplurality of gears mounted upon the sliatt; a like plurality of ring gear segments mounted upon the vehicle concentric with tlieilring pin and arranged to mesh with the gears, said segments being arranged to move with the body relative to tbe draw bar and shaft to actu-ate the gear and shaft when tbe vehicle is driven along a curvilinear course; clutches mounted uponv the shaft adjacent the gears; and selective means engaging tbe cutclies and arranged to actuate a desired clutch to engage a. desired gear independently of the angle between the draw bar and vehicle whereby the sbalt may be rotated and the steeringl Wheels of the trailer moved'automatically in a desired direction and to a desired degree when the vehicle is drivenr forwardly or rearwardly.

lO. ln a trailer steering` mechanism7 selective n'ieans for actuating the steering` Wheels of a trailer in a desired direction and to varying` degrees relative to the body move ment of a vehicle to which the trailer is connected.

ll. In a trailer steering;` mechanism, `gear actuated means connected betuveen a vehicle and trailer for automaticaiy moving tbe steering` wheels et tbe trailer' proportionally to tbe body movement; of the vehicle when moving around a curve; and seective means for varying the direction ot 'movement ot the trailer wheels relative to tbe movement of the vehicle.

l2. ln a trailer steerinf?)Y nuufllanism, glenn' actuated means emineeted between a Velin-le and trailer or automatically moving ie steeringr wheels oii the trailer nronortimnilly to tbe body movement olf ille vehicule when moving;l around a curve; and selective meule: for vVarying' the direction and denjl'ee olf movement ot tbe trai'er wheels relative lo the movementv of tbe vehicle.

ln Witness whereof, l hereunto set my signature.

J. ERNEWI lillt lil l0 li.

liti 

